Use your words: Wise words from Flo and a letter to a Republican Senator

There is a lot of talk on social media about not letting the barrage of crazy shit coming out of the White House overwhelm us into paralysis.

Grover was a stray kitten being slowly killed by a colony of feral cats. Giving him asylum was a win-win; he is now a beloved family member.

The best of these messages came from my pal Flo, who I will quote here:

“The important thing for all of us to remember is that we must not let our ‘shock’ define the narrative here. That is, the founding fathers had this scenario, among others in mind, when establishing judicial, legislative and other remedies to counteract this type of behavior. Our job is to make sure the checks and balances are utilized to the fullest extent by those we elected to govern.”

Bless Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham for their words on Saturday. Other members of the legislative and judicial branches need to join them in growing a pair. The Legislative and Judicial branches of government standing up to the Executive is our only non-violent alternative to the damage Presidents Bannon, Conway and Trump are working to create.

So, People, drag out your words and start writing. I just dashed this off to Senator Ron Johnson. It might not be a masterpiece, but that is not the point.

Dear Senator Johnson:

I am asking you to remember our system of checks and balances, and to stand up for what is right.

This country was founded by men of their time, men who were forward-thinking, men who had lived under oppression and who came together to form “a more perfect union.”

Their vision was messy, but it has endured (and survived a Civil War) for more than 200 years.

Now, our union is again under attack from the inside. As a citizen, I can raise my voice and stand up for the America I love – the America that provides opportunity for all regardless of race, creed or circumstances of birth. An America that provided public education and welcomed my four grandparents, who fled Eastern Europe at the turn of the last century. Family members who did not lie in unmarked mass graves, killed by the Nazis.

You, Sir, can do much more. You are in a position to stand up for what is right and to use your voice to stop the slide from the Democratic Republic envisioned by the Founding Fathers to an authoritarian regime.

I love my country, Sir, and am deeply concerned at the events of the past week. I do not support Betsy DeVos, Rex Tillerson or Jeff Sessions and am appalled at the lack of forethought that appears to be emanating from the executive branch.

I ask you to think deeply about history and to stand up to the administration around policies and individuals that threaten the future of our country and the world. The recent ill-considered decisions regarding immigration and health care policy would be good places to start.

Any time you want to meet to discuss these things in person, I would be willing, able and grateful.

George Lakoff has retired as Distinguished Professor of Cognitive Science and Linguistics at the University of California at Berkeley. He is now Director of the Center for the Neural Mind & Society (cnms.berkeley.edu).